Automatic piano-player.



J. SOHWERTNER.

AUTOMATIC PIANO PLAYER.

APPLIOATION IILBD MAE. 6, 1912.

Patented 0011.28, 1913.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SCHWERTNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO HEERWAGEN COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC PIANO-PLAYER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SCHWERTNER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticPiano-Players, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic piano players and the like, and isespecially directed toimprovements whereby as complete manual controlmay be had of the music as if it were being manually played.

A further object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple formof apparatus which is economical and easy to manufacture, efiicient inuse and not liable to get out of order.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear fromthe detailed description given below taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through part of a pianomechanism embodying my invention in one form; Fig. 2 is a section takenon the line IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of parts shown inFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the various figures, 1 represents the usual wind ductsleading from the tracker board to the primary pneumatics 2 which operatethe primary valves 3 controlling the exhaustion of wind ducts 4 fromwind trunk 5. The wind ducts 4 lead to the secondary pneumatics 6 whichoperate the secondary valves situated in separate wind channels 7. Thevalves 5 control the exhaustion of the wind channels 7 from the mainwind chest 8 so that upon atmospheric pressure being admitted to thewind duct 1, the corresponding valve 7 is raised, closing the exhaust oratmospheric port 9 and producing exhaustion in the channel 7 in a mannerclearly understood by those skilled in the art. Leading from each windchannel 7 is a port 10 which extends upwardly through a block 11 whichis fixed rigidly to the framework. From the block 11 the port 10 extendsinto a space 12 in a block 13 slidably mounted on top of the block 11.The wind space 12 connects with a port 14 leading through the block 11on the opposite side of a partition 15 from the port Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1912.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Serial No. 681,983.

10. From the space 12 the port 14 leads to a continuation 16 of the windchannel 7 which leads to the power or striking pneumatic 17 whichoperates the sticker 18 to sound the corresponding note in a well knownmanner. It will be understood that there is a wind channel 7, 16 foreach power pneumatic 17 corresponding to each note, and a separateslidably mounted block or valve 13 for each wind channel 7, 16, whichblocks or valves are independently movable with respect to one anotherand act as throtvalve 13 for each wind channel 7, 16, which spectively.20 indicates exhaust or atmospheric ports for exhausting the part 16 ofthe wind channels 7, 16, which ports are adapted to be closed by valves21 operated by pneumatics 22 operatively connected with the wind ducts 4by pipes 23 and passages 24, so that the exhaust port 20 is closed eachtime the corresponding secondary valve 5 is raised to close its exhaustport 9, and exhaust port 20 is opened each time corresponding port 25 isclosed.

Referring more especially to- Fig. 2, it will be seen that the port 1%in the block 11 is of peculiar shape, having a small end portion 26connected by a narrow neck portion 27 with a gradually enlarged portion28. As shown in Fig. 1, the throttling block 11 completely covers theenlarged portion 28 and the neck 27, but the small end portion 26 isuncovered so that the wind channel 7, 16 is open but greatly restrictedor throt tled, so that if the secondary valve be operated, the strikingpneumatic 17 will operate with but very little or pianissimo force. Ifthe throttling valve 13 be moved fart-her to the left in Fig. 1 so as touncover a portion of the neck port-ion 27, the note will be struck witha slightly greater or piano force, and if the valve 13 be moved stillfarther to the left so as to uncover a portion of the enlarged portion28, the note will be struck with still greater mezzo-forte force, and soon by gradations of any value until the note is struck or accented withthe greatest force. Thus the power pneumatic may be operated and thenote struck with any one of an infinite number of gradations of force.It will be noted that the enlarged portions 28 increase in width bysteps of gradually increasing length. This has been found to give thegood results and is easy of manufacture. It will also be noted that thevalve varies the effective cross-section of the wind channeldisproportionately to the amount of movement of the valve and thisfeature is of great importance.

For the purpose of moving the throttling valves 13 to produce therequisite volume of accompaniment or relatively subdued notes andaccentuation of the notes, pneumatics 30 are provided, one for eachvalve 13. A. hollow member 31 is attached to the movable side of each ofthe pneumatics 30 in which hollow member is slidably mounted a rod 32having an enlarged portion 33 at its lower end, which enlarged portionis adapted to engage abutments 3a rigid with the block 13. A spring 35forces the member 32 downwardly so that it will always lie between theabutments 34:. To operate or exhaust the pneumatics 30, each isconnected with a wind duct 36 leading to a port 37 Each port 37 isadapted to be connected to a wind trunk 38 by means of a sliding valve39 provided with ports 10 and 1-1 and a connecting passage 42. The port11 is adapted to cooperate with a port 43 leading to the wind trunk 38.in Fig. 1, the valve 39 is shown in a position such that the duct 36 isconnected to the outside atmosphere through port al so that pneumatic 30is expanded, forcing the throttling valve 13 to the right. If, new, thevalve 39 be moved up, the duct 36 will be connected to the wind trunk 38through the ports 11 and d3, causing the pneumatic 30 to collapse, thusmoving the valve 13 to the left in Fig. 1. Each sliding valve 39 is heldto its seat by a leaf spring 14 and link 15, and a pin d6 serves as ameans for moving the valve up and down. Therefore, to cause any note tobe accented, the corresponding valve 39 is moved up, thus exhausting thecorresponding pneumatic 30 and moving the corresponding throttling valve13 to the left so as to decrease the throttling in the channel 7, 16.The amount of accentuation may be determined or limited by adjusting theposition at which the valves 13 step in their movement to the left. Thisis accomplished by an adjustable stop bar 50 extending in front of allof the abutments 34: fixed on the front of the valves 13. The bar 50 iscarried at its ends by uprights 51 pivoted at 52, and rigidly connectedwith arms 53. Thus, by moving the arms 53, the position of the stop 50may be adjusted to any point desired so the volume or amount ofaccentuation 0f the notes may be made anything desired at the will ofthe operator. In a similar manner, a stop bar 54 extends in back of allthe abutments 3% on the back of the valves 13 to limit the movement ofthe valves 13 in the pianissiin-o direction, the bar 54 being carried atits ends by uprights 55 pivoted at 56 and rigidly connected withoperating arms 57 by means of which, the position of the bar 54 ismanually adjusted to adjust the volume of the accompaniment orrelatively subdued notes to any point desired. Any suitable means at thefront of the piano may be suitably connected with the arms 53 and 57whereby these arms may be manually operated from the front of the piano.i111 arrangement for this purpose nny be employed similar to the commonforms of tempo regulators or similar to the tempo regulator described inmy co-pending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 62 1038. Thevalves 39 may be operated by hand to select the notes to be accented, oran apparatus like that described in my co-pending applications SerialNo. 535585 and Serial No. 631 109 may be employed for this purpose. Itwill thus be clear that I have provided a throttling valve of peculiarstruc ture for each note or wind channel 7, 16, movement of which valvein one direction causes the corresponding note to be played loudly, andmovement of which in another direction causes the corresponding note tobe played softly, and means for varying the limit of movement of saidvalves in one direction to adjust the volume of accenting, and means forvarying the limit of movement of said valves in the other direction tovary or adjust the volume of the relatively subdued notes.

By providing a plurality of throttling valves various notes may beindependently regulated so that by suitable means any desired notes maybe selected for accenting, while the remainder may be played softly foraccompaniment, and the relative volume, of accenting and accompanimentmay be regulated as desired.

By the terms throttling and throttle valve I mean a valve or devicewhich. is adapted to maintain the flow of air choked to various degrees,that is, which is :nlapted to remain in various positions to throttlethe flow of air to various degrees, as distinguished from purely acutoff valve, which. is intended to remain only in its extreme positionsof full open or complete shut-oil.

It will be noted that when the throttling valve 13 is in the positionshown in Fig. 1, only a very small portion 26 of tie port 1 1 is open,so that upon the closing of the port 25 by the valve 5, there is only asmall opening through which. the portion 16 of the wind channel may beexhausted. 'lChis small opening may not be large enough to sul'licientlyquickly allow the pressure in the striking pneumatic 17 to return toatmospheric, and I therefore provide the separate ei-ciiaust port 20 inthe part 16 of the wind channel, which port is opened by the valve 21.operating simultaneously with the valve 5.

Although I have described my improve ments in great detail and withrespect to a particular embodiment thereof, nevertheless I do not desireto be limited to such details except as clearly specified in theappended claims, since many changes and modifications may well be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention in its broadest aspect.

Having fully and clearly described my improvements, What I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest,and a sliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying theforce with which the striking pneumatics operate.

2. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, asliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying the forcewith which the striking pneumatics operate, said valve varying theeffective cross-section of the wind channel disproportionately to theamount of movement of the valve, and a valve for each pneumatic forcontrolling the operation thereof.

3. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, asliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying the forcewith which the striking pneumatics operate, movement of which valve inone direction causes the corresponding note to be played loudly andmovement of which valve in another direction causes the correspondingnote to be played softly, and automatic means for opening and closingeach wind channel to the wind chest.

4-. he combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve for each wind channel for varying the force with whichthe striking pneumatics operate, movement of which valve in onedirection causes the corresponding note to be played loudly and movementof which valve in another direction causes the corresponding note to beplayed softly, and means for varying the limit of movement of saidvalves in one direction to vary the amount of ac centing.

5. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve for each wind channel for varying the force with whichthe striking pneumatics operate, means for moving the valve in onedirection to cause the corresponding note to be played loudly and inanother direction to cause the corresponding note to be played softly,and means for varying the limit of movement of said valves in onedirection to vary the volume of the relatively subdued notes.

6. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve for each wind channel for varying the force with whichthe striking pneumatics operate, movement of which valve in onedirection causes the corresponding note to be played loudly and movementof which valve in another direction causes the corresponding note to beplayed softly, means for varying the limit of movement of said valves inone direction to vary the amount of accenting, and means for varying thelimit of movement of said valves in another direction to vary the volumeof the relatively subdued notes.

7. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a separate wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the windchest, a sliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying theforce with which the corresponding striking pneumatic operates, andmechanical means mechanically connected to each of said valves forindependently moving each of said valves.

8. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve for each wind channel for varying the force with whichthe striking pneumatics operate,

movement of which valve in one direction causes the corresponding noteto be played loudly and movement of which valve in another directioncauses the corresponding note to be played softly, means for varying thelimit of movement of said valves in one direction to vary the amountofaccenting, means for varying the limit of movement of said valves inanother direction to vary the volume of the relatively subdued notes,automatic means for independently opening and closing each wind channelto the wind chest, and means independently moving each of the throttlingvalves in either direc tion and selecting the valves to be so moved. 9.The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest, awind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve for each wind channel for varying the force with whichthe striking pneumatics operate; a supply valve for each wind channelcontrolling the opening and closing of the wind channel to the windchest and situated between the wind chest and the throttling valve, andan exhaust valve for ach wind channel and situated between the strikingpneumatic and the throttling valve.

10. The combination of a wind channel, a striking pneumatic suppliedthereby, a pneumatically operated throttling device for more or lessopening and closing said wind channel, a wind chest supplying said windchannel to operate the pneumatic, and means for adjusting the limit ofmovement of the throttling device in both directions of opening andclosing.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of strikingpneumatics, a wind channel leading to each pneumatic, means adapted tothrottle each wind channel to various degrees, and means whereby some ofthe throttling means for some of the channels are caused to throttle thesame more than others, said throttling means comprising sliding valveclosures.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of strikingpneumatics, a wind channel leading to each pneumatic, means adapted tothrottle each wind channel to various degrees, means for adjusting saidthrottling means during the operation of the instrument to vary theamount of throttling of the channels, and means for selecting onlycertain of said throttling means for adjustment.

13. In a musical instrument, the combina tion of a plurality of speakingdevices, a wind channel controlling the operation of each speakingdevice, adjustable means adapted to throttle each channel to variousdegrees, and means for selecting only certain of said throttling meansfor adjustment.

14:. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a windchannel leading to each pneumatic, independently movable throttlingvalves in said wind channels adapted to vary the volume of the notes bysubstantially infinitely small gradations, and means for simultaneouslyvarying the limit of movement of a plurality of said valves.

In a musical instrument the combination of a plurality of strikingpneumatics, a wind channel leading to each pneumatic, independentlymovable throttling valves in said wind channels adapted to vary thevolume of the notes by substantially infinitely small gradations, andmeans whereby part of the valves may be opened to a difi'erent extent tocause some of the notes to be accented during the operation of theinstrument.

16. In a musical instrument the combination of a plurality of strikingpneumatics, a wind channel leading to each pneumatic, independentlymovable throttling valves in said wind channels adapted to vary thevolume of the notes by substantially infinitely small gradations, meanswhereh part of the valves may be opened to a different extentto causesome of the notes to be accented, and means whereby said extent may bevaried during the operation of the instrument.

17. In a musical instrument the combination of a plurality of strikingpneumatics and a plurality of independently and automatically operatedthrottling valves for various pneumatics adapted to vary the force withwhich said pneumatics operate by substantially infinitely smallgradations and means for varying the extent to which said throttlingvalves may be auto natically operated during the operation oi theinstrument.

18. In a musical instrument, the combination of speaking devices, aplurality of wind channels controlling the operation of the speakingdevices, throttling devices in said wind channels adapted to regulatethe control of air therethrough, and means whereby some of said devicesmay be opened to a greater extent than others and the extent to whichthey are opened varied during the operation of the instrument.

19. In a musical instrument the combina tion of speaking devices, aplurality of wind channels controlling the operation of the speakingdevices, sliding throttling devices in said wind channels adapted toregulate the control of air therethrough, means whereby some of saiddevices may be opened to a greater extent than others and the extent towhich they are opened varied during the operation of the instrument, andmeans for selecting said devices to be opened to the greater extent.

20. The combination 01" a plurality of striking pneumatics, a windchest, a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the windchest, sliding throttling devices in said wind channels for varying theforce with which the pneun'iatics operate, a valve for each wind channelcontrolling the opening and closing of the channel. between thethrottling device and wind chest, and an exhaust valve for each windchannel situated between the throttling device and striking pneumatic.

21. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, means "forcausing some of said pneumatics to accentthe notes and some of thepneumatics to play softly as for accompaniment, and means for varyingthe relative volume of the relatively subdued notes and accented notesby substantially infinite gradations, said first mentioned meansembracing a wind chest and a plurality of wind channels supplying thepneumatics and a throttling valve in each channel regulating the supplyof the pneumatics by the wind chest.

22. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, means forcausing some of said pneumatics to accent the notes and some of thepneumatics to play softly as for accompaniment, and means for varyingthe relative volume of the relatively subdued notes and accented notesby substantially infinite gradations, said first mentioned meansembracing a wind chest and separate wind channels supplying thepneumatics and a sliding throttling valve in each channel regulating thesupply of the pneumatics by the wind chest, and said second mentionedmeans embracing a plurality of pneumaticsior operating said throttlingvalves.

23. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneu matic to the wind chest,and separately controllable sliding throttling valves, one for each windchannel, for varying the force with which the striking pneumaticsoperate, said valve acting to vary the effective cross section of thewind channel disproportionately to the amount of the movement of thevalve, and a valve for each wind channel for opening and closing it tothe wind chest.

24. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chestand a sliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying theforce with which the striking pneumatics operate, said valve acting tovary the effective cross section of the wind channel disproportionatelyto the amount of the movement of the valve, and a valve for each windchannel for opening and closing it to the wind chest, and means forvarying the limit of movement of said valves in one direction to varythe force with which the pneumatics operate.

25. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneu- .matic to the wind chestand. a sliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying theforce with which the striking pneumatics operate, means for varying thelimit of movement of said valves in one direction to vary the volume ofthe relatively subdued notes or the amount of accenting, and a valve foreach wind channel for opening and closing it to the wind chest.

26. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the Wind chest, asliding throttling valve for each wind channel for varying the forcewith which the striking pneumatics operate, said valve acting to varythe effective cross section of the wind channel disproportionately tothe amount of the movement of the valve, a supply valve for each windchannel controlling the opening andclosing of the wind channel to thewind chest and situated bet-ween the wind chest and the throttlingvalve, and an exhaust valve for each wind channel and situated betweenthe striking pneumatic and the throttling valve.

27. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, asliding throttling valve in each channel for varying the force withwhich the striking pneumatics operate, said valve acting to very theeffective cross section of the wind channel disproportionately to theamount of movement of the valve, means for varying the limit of movementof each valve in each direction, independent means for causing eachvalve to move to one or the other of its limits of movement and meansfor selecting the valves to be moved in one direction and those to bemoved in the other direction.

28. The combination of aplurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve in each channel for varying the force with which thestriking pneumatics operate, means for varying the limit of movement ofeach valve in each direction, independent means for causing each "alveto move to one or the other of its limits of movement, and means forselecting the valves to be moved in one direction and those to be movedin the other direction.

29. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, athrottling valve in each channel for varying the force with which thestriking pneumatics operate, means for varying the limit of movement ofeach valve in each direction, and means for selecting the valves to bemoved in one diriction and those to be moved in the other direction.

30. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, asliding throttling valve in each channel for varying the force withwhich the striking pneumatics operate, said valve acting to vary theeffective cross section of the wind channel disproportionately to theamount of movement of the valve, and means for varying the limit ofmovement of each valve in each direction.

31. The combination of aplurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneu matic to the wind chest,a sliding throttling valve in each channel for varying the force withwhich the striking pneumatics operate, said valve acting to vary theeffective cross section of the wind channel disproportionately to theamount of movement of the valve, means for varying the limit of movementof each valve in each direction, and means for selecting the valves tobe moved in one direction and those to be moved in the other direction.

32. The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest,a wind channel leading from each pneumatic to the wind chest, and athrottling valve in each wind channel, having a valve opening whichincreases in effective size much faster than the movement of the valveas the valve is opened.

The combination of a plurality of striking pneumatics, a wind chest, awind channel leading from each pneumatic to the wind chest, and athrottling valve in each wind channel, having a valve opening which issmall at one end and increases in size so that it is relatively large atthe other end whereby the opening increases in effective size muchfaster than the movement of the valve as the valve is opened.

34. The combination of a plurality of striking Pneumatics, a Wind chest,a wind channel leading from each striking pneumatic to the wind chest, asliding throttllng valve for each wind channel for varymg the force withwhlch the striking pneumatics operate, each valve having an open- 25 ingwhich is narrow at one end and 111 creases in width so that it isrelatively wide at the other end whereby the opening increases ineffective size much faster than the movement of the valve as the valveis 30 JOSEPH SCHXVERTNEH.

lVitnesses GORHAM CRosBY, EDWIN SEGER.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G.

